In later years, the planet had a population surge, following the establishment of several mining communities, including the capitalElesa. Giant water pipes were constructed to supply the growing towns and cities, and took years to finish.[3]

Although the planet was covered with snow, it hosted many podraces during its history. Most of these courses were controlled and sponsored by the DesilijicHutt clan.[3] Some of these events were televised across the galaxy, even viewed by patrons of nightclubs and sports bars on cosmopolitan worlds like Coruscant.[6] Ando Prime's podracing courses included:

At some point before 27 BBY,[8] aspiring Humancrime lordKaeline Ungasan attempted to wrest the criminal control of podraces in Ando Prime from the Hutts. He sponsored his own podracing event, the Ungasan Cross Country, whose course changed every time it was run. Ungasan secretly used the Cross Country as a cover for his illegal mining operation of vonium, which was present in Ando Prime. The Hutts sent the bounty hunterDavon Gitta to find Ungasan on Ando Prime.[3] In 27 BBY, Ungasan's shady activities and his use of the Cross Country as a front were discovered, in what was the first of many controversies in podracing, leading to the ultimate criminalization of the sport.[8]